Device for eliminating the printing of impressions on impression



March 20, 1928.

. F. J. ALBERT DEVICE FOR ELIMINA ING THE PRINTING 0F IMPRESSIONS ON IMPRESSION CYLINDER PACKINGS Original Filed Jan.19, .1927

INVENTO ATTORNEYS Reissued Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

Re. 16,905 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. ALBERT, OF GUTTENBERG, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 0. B. GOTTBELL & SONS COMPANY, OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DEVICE FOR ELIMINATING THE PRINTING OF IMIRESSIONS ON IMPRESSION- GYLINDER PACKINGS.

Original No. 1,645,469, dated October 11, 1927, Serial No. 162,136, filed January 19, 1927. Application for reissue filed January 28, 1928. Serial No. 250,304.

This invention relates to the art of printing and has particular relation to an attachment for cylinder printing presses of the McKee four-color type,comprehending a device for protecting the packing of the impression cylinder against receiving an impression from the form, upon failure of a sheet to be fed on to the impression cylinder by the feeder when said feeder is automatically stopped by the automatic throw-off mechanism.

Up to the present time a considerable amount of packing and an enormous number of sheets are wasted due tothe failure of a sheet to be fed on to the impression cylinder when the feeder is automatically thrown out of operation by a defective sheet or a defectively fed sheet, which results in the contact of the form with the bare packing,

In presses of or similar to the McKee fourcolor type, the impression cylinder accommo dates two circumferentially spaced sheets and when the feeder and press are stopped by the automatic throw-off mechanism the delivery cylinder invariablv removes one of the sheets while the impression cylinder due to its momentum continues to revolve a sufficient distance to efi'ect a contact with the form and the printing of an impression.

number of sheets to wear off the impression rinted on the impression cylinder packing. is is apparent that these impressions are transferred on to the back of the sheets which aresubsequently fed over the packing having the impression thereon and these sheets are subsequently segregated and discarded by persons employed for this purpose alone, which entails a further item of expense sought to be eliminated. After a number of superimposed impressions are registered upon the packing, it must of necessity beremoved, destroyed and replaced, due

to the factthat the superimposed impressions, increase the circumference of the impression cylinder. to such an extent as to affect the qualitv of the work roduced,

YVhen this occurs during the working hours, it is obvious that considerable loss is entailed due to the length of time required for re-packing, while the press must of necesslty remain idle.

It istherefore-the principal object of the present invention to provide means operable v by the automatic throw-off mechanism,

sheet to the impression cylinder by virtue of the automatic throw-off mechanism being actuated.

The invention when applied to McKee four-color presses or other presses similarv thereto, more specificall comprehends gripper actuating cams which are connected to and are operable by and simultaneously with the automatic throwoff mechanism of the feeder and press to prevent the usual functioning of the grippers of the impression cylinder to release the sheet and the grippers of the delivery cylinder to open and close to take off the sheet, thereby permittinq the sheet to remain on the impression cylinder to cover and protect the packing and receive a second impression. In this manner it is obvious therefore that only a single sheet is wasted in lieu of a numberof sheets,'while the packing is fully protected.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of construction of the attachment or device, the economy with which the same may be produced and installed without the'necessity of materially altering the press, feeder or throw-oil" mechanism, and the general efiiciency derived from the device.

With. the above recite-d and other objects .in'vi'ew, reference is bad to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment. of the invention which is in no way intended as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims as it is to be clearly understood that variations and modifications whichproperly fall within. the scope of said claims may be resorted to :when

found expedient, In the draw1ng s Figure 1 is a fragmentary side View of a press equipped with a device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the inYention and with parts broken away and illustrated in section to disclose the underlying structure:

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end View of the press with the device installed thereon.

Referring tothe drawings by characters of reference, A designates the frame of the press, X the form cylinders, Y the feeding cylinder, Z the feeder, and B the impression cylinder, the surface or periphery of which is covered with one or more packing strips C. The impression cylinder B is further provided with one or more sets of grippers D secured to a transverse rock shaft E mounted or journaled in the cylinder and which rock shaft has secured thereto rock arms F normally engaged and actuated by a spring or other suitable means G for closing the grippers D to clamp and maintain the sheets on the impression cylinder'and over the packing strips C. At present the framework has rigidly supported therefrom a cam H, which is disposed in the path of movement of cam rollers I carried by the rock arms F so that at a particular point in the cycle of movement of the impression cylinder, the grippers are opened and closed. A delivery cylinder J is mounted in the frame and this cylinder is provided with grippers K which are disposed in staggered relation to the grippers D of the impression cylinder, and which grippers are secured to a transverse rock shaft L mounted on the decured thereto a rock arm M which is nor- 7 mally engaged and actuated by a springer other equivalent means N to swing the gripers to a closed position. A cam O is rigidy supported by the frame A and is dis-' posed in thepath of movement -of acam roller P on the rock arm M so that at a particular point in the cycle of movement of the delivery cylinder, the grippers K thereof are opened to receive and are subsequently closed to grip and remove the sheets from the impression cylinder. As heretofore stated up to the present time when the feeder fails to deliver a sheet to the impression.

cylinder due to the fact that the automatic throw-off mechanism. Q, is actuated to stop the feeding by reasonof a defective sheet being fed or a sheet beingdefectively fed, the momentum of the press causes-the impression cylinder to rotate a sufficientdis tance to cause the previously fed sheet or one of the previously fed sheets to be removed by the delivery cylinder and the exposed packing strip is presented to andreceives a printed impression from the form. The

present invention, therefore comprehends means, such as illustrated or any equivalent means, which will prevent the removal of the sheet or one of the sheets when this condition occurs. This means as shown by way of illustration, consists in so mounting the cams H and O that the active surfaces R and S thereof will be disposed out of the path of movement of the cam rollers I and P the instant the automatic throw-off is actuated so that the sheet or one of the sheets on the impression roller, which would ordinarily be released therefrom, gripped and removed by the delivery cylinder J, will not be released, gripped and removed, but will remain on the impression cylinder to cover and protect the packing and receive a second impression from the form.

As specifically illustrated, one way of accomplishing the object and purpose of the invention consists in pivotally mounting the cams H andO on pivots or fulcrums 10 and 11 so that they are capable of being swung laterally to dispose their active faces which ordinarily engage the cam rollers I and P,

out ofthe path of movement of said cam 'fulcrumed, or pivoted cams H and O to dispose the same in a normal position in the path of movement of the cam rollers I and P. In order to provide means for swinging the cams H and O laterally or out of the path of movement'of the cam rollers I and P, which means will be actuated by the automatic throw-ofi mechanism at the instant when said mechanism is actuated, flexible elements 14 and 15, such as cables are attached to the cams or sections of the cams H and O, which are pivotally mounted and said elements are trained around suitable guides, such as sheaves 16 and 17 mounted on brackets 18 and 19 carried by the main frame A of the press. -T he flexible elements may be separately connected .to an arm 20 which is attached to a moving part of the throw-ofl' mechanism or' may be joined to a common element or cable 21 which is in turn connected with the arm 20.. It is, of course, obvious that when the automatic throw-01f mechanism is reset, the tension or'pull previously exerted on the cables 14, 15 and 21 will be slackened and the springs 12 and 13 will return the cam H and the movable portion of the cam O to normal active operating position.

In practice on the McKee typeof press,

it has been found advisable to make only a part or section of the delivery cylinder cam O hinged or pivoted as illustrated, so that gage a portion of the active surface D to "the point where they are normally opene ,to receivethe sheet from the'ilnpression cylinder. It is manifest that the removal or throw-off mechanism,

mechanism to dispose with a sheetfeeder throw-ofl' mechanism,

disposal of the active faces of the cams out of the path of movement of the cam rollers may be accomplished in various and divers ways, and, as heretofore stated, the manner means shown is intended merely to illustrate one manner or Way in which the invention may be reduced to practice and is not intended to limit the invention to the precise details disclosed.

In conclusion and in order that those who are skilled in or familiar with the art to which the invention relates, may appreciate the saving which a device of this character accomplishes, ithas been actually observed that a press not equipped with such a device,-'w1ll, on an average, throw ofi automatically atleast once an hour, and that each time this throw-off occurs, ten or twelve sheets must be discarded and wasted due to the printing on the back from an impression registered on the packing. This results in addition-to the waste of sheets, a consequent waste of the packing strips which must be removed and destroyed after a predeterminednumber of superimposed impressions are registered thereon and a loss entailed by the idleness of the press, Without taking into consideration the necessity of employing skilled persons tosegregate and discard the ruined sheets. It has been fairly accurately estimated that these losses amount to thousands of dollars a year for each press.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing press of the character specified which is equipped with a sheet feeder having an automatic throw-off mechanism controlled by said feeder; means operable by and with the throw-off mechanism When actuated for preventing the normal opening of the impression and delivery cylinder grippers to effect the release of the sheets from the impression cylinder and for removal by the delivery cylinder, whereby to cause the sheet on the-impression cylin der to remain thereon for protecting the packing and preventing an impression being registered thereon.

2. In a printing press which is equipped with a sheet feeder having an automatic means for mounting the gripper actuating cams of the impression and delivery cylinders to allow for their movement from a normal active position to an inactive position, andmeans-connecting said cams with the automatic throw-oil the same in their inactive positionfwhen the automatic throw off mechanism is actuated whereby to cause the sheet on the impression cylinder to remain thereon for rotecting the packing and preventing an impression being regis- "tered thereon. Y J

In a printing press which is equipped having an automatic means for mounting cylinder as they the gripper actuating cams of theimpression and delivery cylinders to permit of the disposal of the active faces of the cams out of movement of the of'the normal path and a connection begripper cam rollers, tween said cams and the automatic throwoff mechanism to cause the disposal of the active faces of the cams out of the normal path of movement of the gripper cam rollers, whereby when the automatic throw-off mechanism is actuated, thesheet or sheets on the impression cylinder will. be retained thereon and prevented from being delivered therefrom. 5. In a printing press which is equipped with a sheet feeder, an automatic throw-off mechanism controlled by the feeder for stopping said feeder and press when actuated, said press including an im ression bein re istered on said ackmg. i Y

6. In a printing press equipped with a feeder for feeding sheets to the impression cylinder, an impression cylinder, a delivery cylinder, means for holding the sheets in place upon said impression cylinder during the period of operation in which the sheets are receiving the printed impression, means on said delivery cylinder for". holding the sheets successively in placeythereon during thedelivery of the sheets by. the delivery are received by it fronrthe impression cylinder, mechanism effective to render said feeder inoperative, and means whereby in the operation of said throw-off mechanism, the sheet or sheets immediately receivingor ready to receive the printed impression, are maintamed in place upon the impression cylinder an impression cylinder, grippers carried by said cylinder, alternate automatic throw-off until the stoppage which has caused the operation of the throw-off mechanism is corrected. a

7. In a printing press equipped with a sheet feeding mechanism having an automatic throw-off mechanism for stopping the feeder and press, impression and delivery cylinders, normally closed grippers carried by said cylinders, coacting means connect-- ed with the gripper-s and carried by the press respectively for opening the grippers to feed and release the sheets fed through the press, and means operable by and with the automatic throw-off mechanism when actuated for preventing coaction of the coacting means to open the grippers of the impression and delivery cylinders whereby to prevent the release and removal of the sheet on the impression cylinder by the delivery cylinder upon failure of the feeder to feed a subsequent sheet. i 8. In a printingpress which is equipped With a feeder having an automaticthrowofif mechanism, means for mounting the gripper actuating cams of the impression and delivery cylinders to allow for lateral swinging movement of the same from a normal active position to an inactive position, and means of connection-between the laterally movable portions of said cams and the automatic throw-off mechanism for instantly moving the same laterally from their active to their inactive position when the automatic throw-off mechanism is actuated whereby to prevent the normal operation of the grippers and to cause the sheet on the impression cylinder to remain thereon to protect the packing and to prevent an impression being registered on said packing.

9. In a printing press of the character specified, means for receiving and presenting a sheet to be printed to the printing forms, andfautomatic means controlled by the sheet feeder for preventing the normal operation of said'sheet-receiving and presenting means to cause last printed sheet on the sheet-receiving and presenting means in event of failure of the sheet feeder to feed av subsequent, sheet thereto wherebyto protect the sheet-receiving and presenting means fromdirectly'receiving an impression from the printing '10. In a printing press'of the character specified which is equipped with a sheet feeder, an automatic throw-off mechanism and an impression cylinderrotating on, a

fixed axis, means operated. automatically when the throw-ofimechanism is actuated,

to cause the impression cylinder to retain the sheet beyond its delivery point, for protecting the cylinder packing from receiving an' impression thereon.

11. In a printing press of the character "specified which is equipped with a sheet ated l automatically sion cylinder to retain the retention of the" tect the sheet when actuated,

controlled by said feeder and an impression cylinder rotating on a fixed axis, means operated by the throw-0E mechanism to cause the impression cylinder to retain the sheet beyond its delivery point, for protecting the. cylinder packing from receiving an impression thereon.

12. In a printing press of the character specified which is equipped with a sheet feeder, an automatic throw-oif mechanism and an impressioncylinder rotating in a fixed relationship to its form, means operwhen the throw-off mechanism is actuated, to cause the impression cylinder to retain the sheet beyond its delivery point, for protecting the cylinder packing from receiving animpression thereon.- I

"specified which is equipped with. a sheet feeder, an automatic throw-off mechanism controlled by said feeder and an impression cylinder rotating in a fixed relationship to its form, means operated by the throw-off mechanism to cause the impresthesheet beyond its delivery point, for protecting the cylinder packing from receiving an impression thereon.

14. In a printing press of specified, means bearing a ship to the printing forms for receiving and presenting a sheet to be printed to the rinting forms, and automatic means controlled by the sheet feeder for preventing the normal operation of the sheet receiving and presenting means in the. event of the failure of the feeder to feed a sheet thereto. .15. In a printing press of the character specified, means bearing a fixed relationship to the printing forms for receiving and presenting a sheet rinting forms, and automatic means controlled by the sheet feeder for preventing the character the normal operation of said sheet receiving and presenting means to cause the retention of the last printed sheet on the sheet receiving and presenting means in'the event of failure of the sheet feeder to feed a subsequent sheet thereto, whereby to proreceiving and presenting means from directly receiving an impressionfrom theprinting forms. p Q 7 1 16. In a printing press of-the character able hyand with the throw-off mechanism for preventing I the normal opening of the impression cylinder grippers to effect the release of the sheets from the impression cylinder, whereby to cause the sheet on the impression cylinder to remain thereon for protecting the packing" and fixed relation-' to be printed to the specified which is equipped with a sheet feeder having an automatic throw-off mechanism controlled b'y said feeder means operpreventing an impression being registered tion in which the sheets are receiving the thereon. printed impression automatic throw-off 17. In a printing press which is equipped mechanism effective to render said feeder with a sheet feeder having an automatic inoperative, and means whereby in the op- 5 throw-oil mechanism, means for mounting eration of said throw-off mechanism, the the gripper actuating cam of the impression sheet or sheets immediately receiving or cylinder to allow for its movement from a ready to receive the printed impression are normal active position to an inactive posi-' maintained in place upon the impression tion, and means connecting said cam with cylinder until the stoppage which has caused 10 the automatic throw-oif mechanism to disthe operation of the throw-off mechanism is pose the cam in its inactive position when corrected. the automatic throw-off mechanism is actu- 21. In a printing press equipped with a ated, whereby to cause the sheet on the imsheet feeding mechanism having an autopression cylinder to remain thereon for promatic throw-off mechanism for stopping the 15 tecting the packing and preventing an imfeeder and press, an impression cylinder, pression being registered thereon. normally closed grippers carried thereby, co-

18. In a printing press which is equipped acting means connected with the grippers with a sheet feeder having an automatic and. carried by the press respectively for throw-off mechanism, means for mounting opening the grippers to receive and release 20 the gripper actuating cam of the impression the sheets fed through the press, and means cylinder for movement from a normal active operable by and with the automatic throwto an inactive position, and means for conoff mechanism when actuated, for preventnecting said cam with the throw-01f mechaing coaction of the coacting means to 0 en nism to render the said cam inactive when the grippers of the impression cylinder,

25 the automatic throw-off mechanism is actuwhereby to prevent the release of the sheet ated, whereby to cause the sheet on the imon the impression cylinder upon failure of pression cylinder to remain thereon. the feeder to feed a subsequent sheet.

In a printing press which is equipped 22. In a printing press which is equipped with a sheet feeder having an automatic with a feeder having an automatic throw-off 30 throw-off mechanism, means for mounting mechanism, means for mounting the gripper the gripper actuating cam of the impression actuating cam of the impression cylinder to cylinder to permit of the disposal of the allow for a lateral swinging movement of active face of the cam out of the normal the same from a normal inactive position to path of movement of the gripper cam roll, an inactive position, and means of connec- 35 and a. connection between said cam and the tion between the laterally movable portion automatic throw-off mechanism to cause the of said cam and the automatic throw-off disposal of the active face of the cam out of mechanism for instantly moving the movable the normal path of movement of the gripper portion of the cam laterally from its active cam roll, whereby when the automatic to its inactive position when the automatic throw-off mechanism is actuated the sheet throw-off mechanism is actuated, whereby to or sheets on the impression cylinder will be prevent the normal operation of the grippers retained thereon. and to cause the sheet on the impression cyl- 20. In a rinting press equipped with a inder to remain thereon to protect the packfeeder for ceding sheets to the impression ing and to prevent an impression being regcylinder, an impression cylinder, means for istered on said packing.

holding the sheets in place upon said im- In testimony whereofI aflix my signature. pression cylinder during the period of opera- FRANK J. ALBERT. 

